Rachel actually woke up before I did, and she explained everything to Nathan.
Nathan held me tightly, his whole body shaking a little, and he kept saying sorry again and again.
“I’m so sorry, Stella. Please forgive me.
“I misunderstood you.
“I didn’t protect you like I should have, and I blamed you unfairly. I deserve to be hit for what I did…”
He was visibly shaking, and the warmth of his hug made my eyes start to tear up without me even realizing it.
All the anger and sadness I’d been keeping inside came rushing out, and I started crying all over Nathan’s shirt.
“Nathan, it’s all because of me!
“If I hadn’t been such a screw–up before, you wouldn’t have doubted me!”
I shook my head frantically, wanting Nathan to trust my words.
I continued, “I was wrong. I swear I won’t cling to you or cause you trouble anymore!
“I’ll never yearn for you again. I just want to stay as your sister forever!”
I felt Nathan’s body tense up for a second, then he started softly patting my back. We stayed in each other’s arms for a long time, and it felt like all the distance between us had vanished.
Nathan brought over the bowl of oatmeal he’d set aside for me.
He said, “You should eat something first.”
He fixed my hair and helped me put on my jacket.
Then he said, “I’m going to buy your favorite muffins to make it up to you.
“Wait here until I get back. I need to talk to you about something really important.”
I stared at Nathan quietly, feeling like he was somehow different, like he’d come to a serious choice.
But I waited and waited, and he still didn’t return. Instead, I got a text from Rachel first.
“Stella, please, meet me on the school rooftop.
“Please come by yourself.
“Please…”
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I sprinted out of the house like a madwoman.
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The abbot’s words echoed over and over in my head, “What was done couldn’t be undone.” Was there really nothing I could change? Then what was the point of being reborn at all?
But the message Rachel sent this time wasn’t the same as in my previous life.
Back then, she texted me taunting words, tricking me into thinking she and Nathan were meeting secretly on the school rooftop. But now, things felt different. It seemed like the real truth was right in front of me.
When I arrived at the rooftop, Rachel was sobbing just like she did before.
“Rachel, what on earth happened to you?!” I asked.
She looked up at me, then suddenly dropped to the ground on her knees with a loud thud.
“Stella, there’s no way out for me. The guys who attacked us that day worked for Marcelo, they took… they took so many photos and videos of me. I was trapped from the start.”
I instantly felt a surge of rage. “You knew all along, so why didn’t you report it? You’re the victim here. None of this is your fault!”
Rachel shouted back, looking like she was about to break down completely, “It’s pointless, Stella!
“I tried to fight back, but it was useless…
“They threatened me with my mom and siblings. Marcelo’s family isn’t ordinary. We can’t stand up to someone like him.
“He’s like a monster. He’s been scheming against us the whole time. He wants to destroy Nathan, and you’re the per- fect pawn to get to him.
“I’m truly sorry. You and Nathan have both been so good to me.
“Stay away from me. If you don’t touch me, there won’t be any proof you were involved.
“Nathan cares about you deeply; he’ll risk everything to keep you safe.
“But if I refuse to do what Marcelo demands, my family won’t have any chance to live. If I die, maybe it’ll cause enough of a scene to blow everything open.
“All I want is for you to take care of my family after I’m gone, even if it’s just for the sake of the short month we spent as friends.”
I couldn’t even let her finish before I rushed over and grabbed her by the collar, my voice roaring so loud it was the only sound I heard.
“Then do you understand what will happen to Nathan if you die? He’ll spend the rest of his life missing you!”
That’s when I noticed tears streaming down my face, and Rachel was staring at me, stunned.
The silk pouch slipped out of my pocket and hit the floor with a soft “clack.” It rested there silently, and I faintly re-
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Chapter 4
called how warm it felt when I first held it in my hand.
Since I’m Nathan’s destined downfall, then he’d finally be happy without me, right?
So that’s what it all means.
I finally get it now.
“So, we just need to make a huge scene, right?” I turned around and sprinted to the edge of the rooftop.
At first, I felt almost weightless. But then a crushing feeling of falling took over.
I chose the abyss, and so I fell into it.
“Bang!” A loud bang followed by a piercing scream shattered the calm night air.
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Meanwhile, Nathan, who was crossing the street outside the school, was so startled by the sudden noise that he nearly dropped what he was carrying.
It was the last muffin he could find. The bakery he planned to go to had already closed, so he’d searched several other shops before finally finding this new bakery near the school.
People nearby began to chatter anxiously.
“It looks like someone died!”
“A girl just jumped from a building!”
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